ioT-Based Attacks
- (McGraw Tower - Photo Courtesy of Cornell University)
- Overview
The internet of things (IoT) is easily one of the most versatile technologies in existence today. The ubiquity of the internet, the growing capacity of network connection, and the diversity of connected devices make the IoT scalable and adaptable. Food production, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and energy are just a few of the industries that the IoT has revolutionized -- specifically through its extension, the industrial internet of things (IIoT). At the same time, it has also led to the realization of smart homes, buildings, and even cities.
However, the growing reality of the IoT also means recognizing its possible consequences. In an enterprise setting, for example, the IoT is often seen in the office automation (OA) and operational technology (OT) areas. This translates to multiple IoT and IIoT devices deployed within an organization. Such a setup increases the possibility of threats in spaces that had never posed cybersecurity risks before. IoT devices in these common spaces can have an effect on critical systems, like the intranet and database servers, through the IoT systems’ data collection and monitoring capabilities.
Threats to IoT systems and devices translate to bigger security risks because of certain characteristics that the underlying technology possesses. These characteristics make IoT environments functional and efficient, but they are likely to be abused by threat actors.
[More to come ...]
